Libyan Crisis

Indigenous kamikaze drone KARGU by STM appears in Libya

Developed by Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş (STM), a prominent Turkish defense industry company, KARGU Autonomous Tactical Multi-Rotor Attack UAV was spotted on Wednesday, May 27 in Ain Zara, south of Tripoli, Libya.

A number of social media accounts supporting Haftar alleged a drone/UAV departing from Mitigar Air Base was downed. Yet, as a result of the first examinations of the photos of the platform allegedly downed made by Defence Turk, it was revealed that the platform was not downed. Instead, what was seen on the photo indicated they were only some parts of the drone after attacking.

Detection of KARGU from photos
Kadir Doğan, author of Defence Turk, stated after his examinations that the parts in the photos belonged to KARGU.



According to Doğan, the parts in the photos;
Foldable rotor,
Foldable arms and legs
Colour
Metal battery compartment
case structure and dimensions of the structure are the parts of KARGU by STM that was spotted in Libya.

Why is KARGU still intact despite being hit?

When the structure of KARGU kamikaze UAV is examined, the condition of the front side, where the explosive and the camera are set, can be distinguished.
In the first examinations by Kadir Doğan, it turned out that the guided warhead and camera were not visible and these parts became separated from the rear side after burning / exploding. As a consequence, the explosive on the front side detonated while acquiring the target. However, the rear side remained structurally intact. Said to be the explosive head on various social media accounts, the silvery parts wrapped with folio were indeed the battery blocks.

Pro-Haftar forces claimed a number of Bayraktar TB2 were downed

The forces affiliated to putschist Khalifa Haftar disinform people on social media. In the previous months, Haftar supporters claimed they downed 26 Bayraktar TB2, which is a made-up story. When the images were analyzed, it came to light that some UAVs downed in the region were being carried to various locations in trucks and rephotographed and share as if they had been recently downed.



More details at: https://en.defenceturk.net/indigenous-kamikaze-drone-kargu-by-stm-appears-in-libya/

The forces affiliated to putschist Khalifa Haftar disinform people on social media. In the previous months, Haftar supporters claimed they downed 26 Bayraktar TB2, which is a made-up story. When the images were analyzed, it came to light that some UAVs downed in the region were being carried to various locations in trucks and rephotographed and share as if they had been recently downed.

That's crap .

If LNA can shoot down some UAVs it simply means they can shoot down more .

Which putsch ?? the Libyan House of Representatives is the only elected power now in Libya and it supports LNA .

Libyans never elected GNA  .Turkey only needs to take the economic deals in Libya ,so any talk about putsch is just a crap .

I hope Egypt would move and clear the Libyan sky from all those Turkish dumb drones .

GarryB wrote:Hahahaha... first of all that is not unsafe... second... now we know where all the photos of Russian aircraft going to Libya came from.

Regarding Wagner.... I have a lot of sympathy for Mikes view here... ask an american what a short barrel AK-74 is and they will likely tell you it is a Krinkov... ask an american fanboy to identify an I-16 fighter plane and half will call it a Geebee racer... and the other half will call it Rata (the rat).

It is possible that the Wagner might be the last name of the CEO of the company or it might just be bullshit... a fictional counterpart to Blackwater.

Of course that is not to say ex Russian soldiers don't do contract work, but it becomes amusing that Wagner is everywhere and doing everything and has no competition... almost insinuating that it is Putins little private army... like Blackwater was being used by the Americans and still is...

I don't prefer Russia to get involved there because US would do too .

The best solution should come from Egypt .

If these migs and su-24 did come from Belarus I wonder once AD systems of GNA are removed if Belarus will supply Su-25 it certainly has a decent amount of them more than it needs and Su-25 is a very useful aircraft in this type of conflict once AD are destroyed or severely limited. Great at supporting ground troops. Let's hope LNA get a handful of them soon.

I agree, but where there is money involved then I can see ex military Russians wanting to earn money or possibly get another shot at some terrorist shitheads Turkey has transferred from Syria to Libya...

I would expect with Russian support and perhaps advice that Egypt would be far better positioned to push Libya towards a good result that is actually in the interests of the Libyan people.

If these migs and su-24 did come from Belarus I wonder once AD systems of GNA are removed if Belarus will supply Su-25 it certainly has a decent amount of them more than it needs and Su-25 is a very useful aircraft in this type of conflict once AD are destroyed or severely limited. Great at supporting ground troops. Let's hope LNA get a handful of them soon.

The Su-25 would be vastly more useful in Libya than in any conflict Belarus might find itself involved in...

Very strange flight path yesterday. Turkey to Misrata flight diverting to Benghazi in LNA land.

It seems it was empty. The plane had spent more than 2 months in Istanbul for periodic maintenance. It was supposed to be back to Misrata today but there was 'no room' at Misrata for it.

Been a lot of retreating going on for Haftar's forces these past few days.

This advance was always about time, as I originally said. More time goes by worse it gets for Haftar.

If this continues Haftar will never get full control of Libya.

SeigSoloyvov wrote:Been a lot of retreating going on for Haftar's forces these past few days.

This advance was always about time, as I originally said. More time goes by worse it gets for Haftar.

If this continues Haftar will never get full control of Libya.

Both side are composed of guerillas groups who are not reliable at all and switch sides often. You can't control a country with such "army".

This war will never end unless if someone from outside comes and end it. And frankly when you see what Erdogan does with Syrian refugees against EU we better support Haftar. If Erdogan win in Lybia he will open the borders the migrants and the situation will be 100x worst with more terrorists, more far right racist movement in Europe all this leading to more wars.

Maybe 6 Mig-29 didn't make it to Libya

Anyone up for translating the significance of these runes?

JohninMK wrote:Maybe 6 Mig-29 didn't make it to Libya

Syrian air force keeps its mig29 in Hmeimim as a cover against Israel. Also some said russia transfered few mig-29 to them recently. I doubt they are for Libya.

JohninMK wrote:Anyone up for translating the significance of these runes?

What I'm able to piece together is

Top one "Odal" symbolizes spiritual and material legacy (country, tradition, home...)

Lower one "Beregina" symbolizes female legacy and maternal protection (Godess Mother)

JohninMK wrote:Maybe 6 Mig-29 didn't make it to Libya

You could be correct.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-military-receives-advanced-mig-29-jets-from-russia/

BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:30 P.M.) – Syria has received from the Russian Ministry of Defense the next batch of advanced and modernized MiG-29 warplanes.

A military source quoted by Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) stated on Saturday:

“In the context of military and technical cooperation between the Syrian Arab Republic and the Russian Federation, and within a special ceremony held at the Hmeimim Airbase, the Russian side delivered the next batch of advanced and modernized MiG-29 warplanes to the Syrian Arab Army. ”

The source added that “the planes, which are more effective than their previous generation, carried out their flights from Hmeimim base to their areas of concentration in the Syrian military airports.”

They also clarified that, “From the beginning of next June, the Syrian pilots will begin carrying out the scheduled shifts of these planes in the Syrian airspace.”

@LNA2019M

The #LNA airdefense platforms have shootdown three Turkish UAVs near the city of Bani Walid.

#GNA / #Turkey Syrian #terrorist mercenary commander of the Al hamza brigade in #libya from aleppo killed in libya by the Libyan Army #LNA.
Viva #Libya

The Libyan armed forces #LNA have gained full control of the Ramla axis after a very violent battles against the terrorists of the #GNA

More than 73 #GNA Syrian #terrorist mercenaries killed by the #LNA in the last 42 hours .

They claim total amount of UAVs they downed reached 107, it means entire TB2 fleet of Turkey.

Meanwhile Turkish UAVs fly in Aegean (TCB209 to 212, amounts 3 in air & 3 more of their fleet mates on ground) in Idlib area (dedicated at least 3) N.Iraq (constant UAV force of 3-6?) and definitely in Libya with unknown amount. And I was to forget, 12 UAVs for General Directorate of Security which are used for internal security operations.

Either Turkish industry is very fast replacing those or some dudes in Benghazi have very bad mathematics degree from primary school.

Arms supply war heats up: Turkey increases transport flights to Tripoli-based forces

By
News Desk -
2020-05-30 0

BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:30 P.M.) – Both Turkey and Russia are currently involved in a weapons supply war to rival factions in Libya, despite international calls for a ceasefire among the warring parties.

Marine and air traffic websites have recently revealed the increased number of Russian and Turkish flights to Libya amid the intensification of battles between the Government of National Accord (GNA) and Libyan National Army (LNA).

Turkey has been open about their support to the U.N.-recognized Government of National Accord, often boasting about their defense agreement with the Tripoli-based forces.

Not only has Ankara provided arms and supplies to the GNA, but Turkey has repeatedly sent mercenaries from Syria to Libya, as they attempt to push back the Libyan National Army from the western part of the country.

In regards to Russia, a number of flights to Benghazi from their main airbase in Syria, Hmeimim, have been observed recently, with some observers claiming Moscow has transported MiG-29 fighters and other modern jets to the Parliament-led Libyan National Army.

Russia has denied the allegations that they have been transporting weapons to the Libyan National Army, while the LNA has denied having any knowledge of such shipments.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has also denied sending any mercenaries from the Wagner security group, an organization that has been in several conflict zones across the world, including Syria.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/arms-supply-war-heats-up-turkey-increases-transport-flights-to-tripoli-based-forces/

The leader of the Turkish-backed Syrian “Sultan Murad Brigade” organization, Murad Abu Hamoud Al-Azizi, was killed in clashes in the Libyan capital, according to what the Military Information Division of the Libyan National Army announced via Facebook.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/libyan-army-kills-leader-of-turkish-backed-syrian-militant-group/

AbdulhamidtheSecond wrote:They claim total amount of UAVs they downed reached 107, it means entire TB2 fleet of Turkey.

Meanwhile Turkish UAVs fly in Aegean (TCB209 to 212, amounts 3 in air & 3 more of their fleet mates on ground) in Idlib area (dedicated at least 3) N.Iraq (constant UAV force of 3-6?) and definitely in Libya with unknown amount. And I was to forget, 12 UAVs for General Directorate of Security which are used for internal security operations.

Either Turkish industry is very fast replacing those or some dudes in Benghazi have very bad mathematics degree from primary school.

They aren't stating the types of drones, it could be small recon drones etc.

I wouldn't assume.

AbdulhamidtheSecond wrote:They claim total amount of UAVs they downed reached 107, it means entire TB2 fleet of Turkey.

Meanwhile Turkish UAVs fly in Aegean (TCB209 to 212, amounts 3 in air & 3 more of their fleet mates on ground) in Idlib area (dedicated at least 3) N.Iraq (constant UAV force of 3-6?) and definitely in Libya with unknown amount. And I was to forget, 12 UAVs for General Directorate of Security which are used for internal security operations.

Either Turkish industry is very fast replacing those or some dudes in Benghazi have very bad mathematics degree from primary school.

Not all downed drones are TB2. There are many types of drones there, from UCAVs, suicide drones and recce drones. Considering intensity and time of months of fighting, this number is quite normal.

Not sure why LNA are using/wasting kornet missiles. Nothing the GNA requires such. Shturm, Konkurs, metis m, fagot, dagger, spg -9. Is more than ample for the job and much cheaper. And in a long drawn war like this costs go a long way. They could keep kornet in case Turkey starts to send leopard tanks, but even then konkurs, metis m, shturm would take them out no problem and Libya does at AT-15 to take out leopards as well. I wonder if Russia or Belarus still has stock pile of AT-2 fleya swatter missiles these can still be launched from vehicles in the past from brdm -1 the missile is pretty much no longer really used as it was mostly used by heli Russia and Belarus could clear their stocks of these to Libya range and penetration is good enough for bunkers, ifv, apc, T-55 and trucks.

the Libyan National Army can be seen firing a Kornet anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) towards the GNA’s positions, scoring a direct hit,which caused a powerful explosion.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/moment-libyan-army-hits-turkish-backed-forces-with-missile-video/

AbdulhamidtheSecond wrote:They claim total amount of UAVs they downed reached 107, it means entire TB2 fleet of Turkey.


Meanwhile Turkish UAVs fly in Aegean (TCB209 to 212, amounts 3 in air & 3 more of their fleet mates on ground) in Idlib area (dedicated at least 3) N.Iraq (constant UAV force of 3-6?) and definitely in Libya with unknown amount. And I was to forget, 12 UAVs for General Directorate of Security which are used for internal security operations.

Either Turkish industry is very fast replacing those or some dudes in Benghazi have very bad mathematics degree from primary school.

This figure for the Turkish-made ones include the Anka family of UAVs and obviously some US-made Predators and Reapers and several purely surveillance UAV such as the Orbiter 3 ,Thresher-03 and so on.

From the most reliable estimates between both the Syrian and Lybian theatre the number of TB2 lost is around 60 that is a bit less than half of the fist years production lots; those are noticeable losses but not even by far near to the entire TB2 fleet of  Turkey.

Theirs production in Turkey has been moreover ramped up to comply with some international orders.

Some claims circulate in Twitter that GNA surrounded Tripoli Airport except its East flank to let Haftar forces fall back.

Plus claims in combat need to be taken with a grain of salt depending on the sources...

I actually think it would be quite fun to try to shoot these things down... a bit of rifle fire practise... you are not actually killing anyone if you succeed, but are protecting your forces when you do...

For suicide drones and small DJI drones it is the way how it is done.

Except for Saudi dumbs who launch Patriot missile for DIY Yemeni drones.

As for tactical UAVs, they are not seen with bare eye from distance since they fly near 30k feet.

Not all UAVs are TB-2 .Recon UAVs are useful to gain data , suicide one to attack the forces , so hitting them is good too .

And yes in time of war the military industry has a boosting plans for the production and not everything would be published .

Erdogan said before that one Turkish soldier was killed in Libya , i'm wondering how many get killed till now ?

I hope someone like Gamal Abdel Elnasser or Sadat were in Sisi position to show to Erdogan what is the meaning of projection power .